Sewer augering machine

ABSTRACT

A plumber snake apparatus for cleaning pipes with a plumber snake wherein a changeable snake cartridge with a snake coiled therein is removeably housed in a cartridge housing. A handgrip is provided at the forward end of the housing for gripping the tool as the snake within the pipe being cleaned is rotated with the housing. Upon rearward axial displacement of the handgrip a chuck is automatically actuated to grip the snake and prevent further axial feed.

United States Patent Silverman et a1.

[54] SEWER AUGERING MACHINE [72] Inventors: Lee H. Silverman; Arthur A.Silverman; Edward T. Gaworski, all of Pittsburgh, Pa.

[73] Assignee: General Wire Spring Company, Pittsburgh, Pa.

[22] Filed: Jan. 6, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 104,242

[52] US. Cl. ..15/l04.3 SN [51] int. Cl. ..B08b 9/02 [58] Field ofSearch....l5/104.3 R, 104.3 SN; 242/54 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Rudolph et a1. ....15/104.3 SN

[451 Sept. 19, 1972 Allen ..l5/l04.3 SN Bollinger ..15/l04.3 SN

Primary Examiner-Edward L. Roberts Attorney-Carothers and Carothers [57] ABSTRACT A plumber snake apparatus for cleaning pipes with a plumbersnake wherein a changeable snake cartridge with a snake coiled thereinis removeably housed in a cartridge housing. A handgrip is provided atthe forward end of the housing for gripping the tool as the snake withinthe pipe being cleaned is rotated with the housing. Upon rearward axialdisplacement of the handgrip a chuck is automatically actuated to gripthe snake and prevent further axial feed.

10 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure SEWER AUGERING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of Invention This invention relates generally toconduit cleaning devices and more particularly to apparatuses fordriving plumbers snakes.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art Power driven snakes, due to foreign use,generally comprise a reversible motor having a rotatable drive member atits forward end which receives and secures with a snake drum having asnake coiled therein. These drums are removable and one may normallyselect a different drum for a different task as each drum may contain adifferent diameter snake for a particular cleaning purpose.

However, the construction of these drums is relatively expensive as theymust be specifically keyed and adapted at their rearward end for thesecurement to the drive member, "and their forward end must also beespecially adapted with a relatively expensive type of mount in order toreceive a grip with which the operator may grasp the tool. These gripsmay also have a chuck mounted therein to engage the snake or cablepassing therethrough. These chucks are normally operable by twisting asleeve member or squeezing a trigger. As such, these chucks are eitherrelatively intricate in operation and, therefore, expensive as in thelatter mentioned trigger type, or rather awkward to operate as bytwisting a collet with the same hand with which the operator isattempting to hold the forward end of the device (as is the situationwith the first mentioned chuck).

Therefore, if many different type selections of drums are desired,either for the purpose of connecting successive snakes as they are fedinto a conduit or sewer line, or for the purpose of having theversatility of interchanging different diameter snakes, the drums of theprior art are relatively expensive because of their special requirementsas to their forward and rearward connection adapters. Therefore anaccumulation of these drums is undesirably expensive. Furthermore, eachtime a drum is changed, not only must the old drum be removed and thenew one mounted to the drive member, but also, the chuck which issecured to the forward end of the drum must, in each instance, beremoved and resecured to the new drum thereby requiring additionalexpenditure of time for part assembly which could be more fruitfullyapplied to the task to be accomplished.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal object of the presentinvention to provide a plumber snake apparatus which eliminates theforegoing disadvantages and provides an inexpensive snake cartridgewhich does not have to be especially adapted for driving engagement witha drive member and does not have to have a special mounting arrangementat its forward end for engagement with a chuck for the gripping of thespring or snake being fed from the forward end of the cartridge, therebyproviding a much less expensive means of permitting the operator to havea better selection and more numerous selection of plumbers snakes at alow cost not heretofore possible and requiring only one operation forattachment to the drive member without the additional requirement ofreattaching a chuck gripping member at the forward end of the drum eachtime a drum change is made.

The plumber snake apparatus of the present invention comprises a snakecartridge having a flexible snake coiled therein. A housing is securedto a rotatable drive member for rotating the same and is provided with aforward axial opening for the passage of the flexible snake. Accessmeans is also provided in the housing for the insertion and removal ofthe snake cartridge which may be removably positioned in the housing forrotation therewith and has an axial opening at its forward end which isaligned with the forward housing opening for the passage of the flexiblesnake.

The housing is preferably provided at its forward end with a tubularspindle projecting therefrom axially of its forward opening. A tubularhandgrip coaxially overlies this spindle and a bearing means ispositioned between the grip and the spindle to permit relative axial androtational movement therebetween. A chuck means is operable with axialdisplacement of this grip to clamp the snake passing through thespindle.

The snake cartridge may be molded of an inexpensive plastic which isretained in fixed relationship for rotation with a housing merely by theexertion of the housing pressing against the plyable plastic as themolded cartridge generally conforms to the interior shape or contour ofthe housing. Thus, the molded cartridge is very inexpensive, requires noextra adaptations for mounting to the drive member or for the mountingof a handgrip, and does not have to be made as heavy duty as thereplaceable drums of the prior art.

The chuck means preferably comprises an opening in the tubular spindlewith a spring jaw member having a flexible spring arm connected at oneend to the outside of the spindle and extending outwardly therefrom andending in a jaw head which extends over the opening for passagetherethrough into the spindle to engage the spring or snake when thespring arm is flexed inwardly. Guide means is provided in the bearingmeans to receive the flexible spring arm in order to force the jaw headinwardly through the opening upon axial displacement of the tubulargrip. The arrangement is preferably set up so that the chuck is actuatedupon rearward axial displacement of the tubular hand grip.

Other objects and advantages appear hereinafter in the followingdescription and claims.

The accompanying drawing shows, for the purpose of exemplificationwithout limiting the invention or the claims thereto, certain practicalembodiments illustrating the principles of this invention wherein theFIGURE is a view in front elevation with portions removed for internalviewing of the plumber snake apparatus of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, the power driven plumber snake apparatus 1 ofthe present invention comprises a variable speed reversible motor 2, asnake cartridge housing 3 mounted on the forward end of the motor 2 forrotation, a plastic molded snake cartridge 4 housed within housing 3 andhaving snake 5 wound therein, and a forward tubular handgrip 6 housing acollet chuck therein for engagement of the snake 5 upon rearwarddisplacement of the tubular hand grip 6.

Referring again to the variable speed motor 2, it is actuated by trigger7 which varies the rotational speed of the forward housing mountingmeans 8 according to the degree of depression.

A reversing switch 9 is mounted on a stationary portion of the motorhousing and permits reversal of the direction of rotation of the housing3 and consequently the snake or snake spring 5. g

The housing 3 is provided with a rear portion 10 and a front portion 11.The conically shaped front portion 11 has its annular rearward endreceived within the annular opening of the rearward housing portion 10and seated on an annular shoulder 12.

The housing portions are temporarily secured together by means of aplurality of thumb screws 13 which are threadably received in theforward housing portion 1 1. The threaded stems of thumb screws 13 arepermitted to slide rearwardly into forwardly open slots 14 of therearward portion 10. Once the rearward annular opening of the housingportion 11 rests against the annular shoulder 12, then the thumb screwsmay be tightened in order to clamp the housings together as theundersurface area of the knurled head portion of the thumb screws 13 islarger than the width of the slots 14 and therefore bears against theouter surface of the rearward housing 10.

Rearward housing portion 10 is rigidly secured for rotational movementwith the forward rotational drive member 8 of motor 2 by means of screwsor bolts 15. The forward end of drive member 8 is provided with aconical head 16 which helps to guide the snake 5 for proper coilingwithin its plastic snake cartridge 4.

The plastic cartridge 4 may be produced by common blow mold techniquesin a single operation and is contoured to fit the interior contours ofhousing 3. A plurality of such cartridges 4 may thus be provided, eachwith its own snake coiled therein, such that as a snake extension isrequired or a change in snake diameter is required, the cartridges maybe quickly changed by removing the front housing portion 11 aspreviously described.

The snug fit of the plastic cartridge 4 within the hous ing 3 is allthat is required in order to provide the necessary driving force betweenthe housing 3 and the cartridge 4 so that the snake 5 will rotate withthe housing. Thus, the pliability or flexibility of plastic is preferredfor the substance of materials selected for use in the cartridge 4.

The tubular grip member 6 is provided with a rearward conical shapedshield 17 and a forward tubular handgrip portion 18 which is grasped bythe operator with one hand while his other hand is manipulating thetrigger 7.

It will be noticed that the forward end of housing 3 is provided with atubular spindle 19 which extends axially from the forward opening ofhousing 3. This spindle is rigidly secured to the forward housingportion 11. The tubular handgrip 6 remains stationary in the hand of theoperator while the tubular spindle 19 rotates with the housing 3. Topermit friction free relative rotation between these two members abushing type bearing 20, such as a bronze oil-lite bearing, is providedwith a force fit inside the tubular portion 18 of the grip member 6 sothat it will move integrally therewith.

A sleeve 21 is coaxially received within bearing 20. Thus, sleeve 21 ispermitted both rotational and axial relative movement between itself andthe handgrip 6.

Sleeve 21 is also provided with two axially extending key ways 22 whichpermit clearance for machine screws 23 which clamp ribbon spring jawmembers 24 rigidly to the outside surface of tubular spindle 19. Ribbonspring jaw members 24 consist of spring arms 25 and jaw heads 26.

It can be visualized that when sleeve 21 is displaced axially in arearward direction, the leading edges 27 of the key ways 22 will engagethe spring arms 25 thereby acting as cam guideways depressing jaw heads26 inwardly through openings 31 to engage and grip snake spring 5 toprevent relative rotational movement between the rotary drive of motor 2and the snake 5 during operation to clean a conduit. When it is desiredto either feed more snake out of the cartridge 4 into the conduit, or toreturn the snake from the conduit to the cartridge 4, the rearwardpressure placed on tubular housing 6 is merely released and the outwardspring force of spring arms 25 will urge tubular grip 6 forward againinto its natural position thereby releasing the chuck to permit one toslide the snake 5 either into or out of the cartridge 4.

When the tubular grip member 6 is displaced axially in the rearwarddirection, the sleeve 21 will simultaneously move with it to depressspring arm 25 as the forward end of the bronze bushing 20 is providedwith an annular shoulder 28 which the forward end of sleeve 21 abuts toprevent it from remaining stationary as the bearing 20 is movedrearwardly with the tubular grip 6. In order to prevent the entiretubular assembly from slipping forward entirely off tubular spindle 19,annular abutment ring 29 is coaxially received over the outer end oftube 19 and secured rigidly with respect thereto by means of the Allanset screw 30. This abutment ring 29 is of sufficient diameter to engageand abut the forward hand of grip member 6. The axial displacement ofabutment member 29 may of course be adjusted to provide the desiredamount of axial displacement required of tubular grip member 6 beforejaw members 24 will engage the snake 5 by passing the jaw heads 26through their respective openings 31.

We claim:

1. A plumber snake apparatus for pipe cleaning comprising a snakecartridge, said snake cartridge having a flexible snake coiled therein,a housing adapted for encasement of said snake cartridge therein andhaving means to rotate the same and provided with an axial opening atits forward end for the passage of said flexible snake, access means onsaid housing for the insertion and removal of said snake cartridge, saidsnake cartridge removably positioned in said housing for rotationtherewith and having an axial opening at its forward end aligned withsaid housing forward opening for passage of said flexible snake.

2. The plumber snake apparatus of claim 1 wherein said snake cartridgeis a molded plastic container which conforms to the internal shape ofsaid housing.

3. A plumber snake apparatus for pipe cleaning comprising a snakecartridge, said snake cartridge having a flexible snake coiled therein,a housing for said snake cartridge having means to rotate the same andprovided with an axial opening at its forward end for the passage ofsaid flexible snake, access means on said housing for the insertion andremoval of said snake cartridge, said snake cartridge removablypositioned in said housing for rotation therewith and having an axialopening at its forward end aligned with said housing forward opening forpassage of said flexible snake, a tubular spindle projecting from saidhousing axially of said opening, a tubular hand grip coaxially overlyingsaid spindle, bearing means between said grip and said spindle to permitrelative axial and rotational movement therebetween, and chuck meansoperable with axial displacement of said grip to clamp said snakepassing through said spindle.

4. The plumber snake apparatus of claim 3 wherein said snake cartridgeis a molded plastic container which conforms to the internal shape ofsaid housing.

5. The plumber snake apparatus of claim 3 wherein said chuck meanscomprises an opening in said tubular spindle, a spring jaw member havinga flexible spring arm connected at one end to the outside of saidspindle and extending outwardly therefrom and ending in a jaw headextending over said opening for passage therethrough into said spindleto engage said snake when said spring arm is flexed inwardly, and guidemeans in said bearing means to receive said spring arm to force said jawhead inwardly through said opening upon axial displacement of saidtubular grip.

6. The plumber snake apparatus of claim 5 wherein said bearing meansincludes a sleeve coaxially slidable over said tubular spindle, anaxially extending cam guideway inside said sleeve to receive said springarm and operable to force said jaw head inward through said opening insaid tubular spindle when said sleeve is displaced rearwardly, saidsleeve having antifriction rotational engagement with said tubular gripand being axially displaceable therewith, and stop means on said tubularspindle forward of said sleeve to limit the forward axial movement ofsaid grip and sleeve.

7. A power driven conduit cleaner snake apparatus comprising: a powertool providing a rotatable drive member; a snake cartridge housingmounted on said drive member for axial rotation therewith to receive,house and rotate a snake cartridge and having an axial opening at itsforward end for the passage of a snake, said housing having access meansto permit the insertion and removal of a snake cartridge; a snakecartridge having a snake coiled therein and removably positioned in saidhousing for rotation therewith and having a forward opening aligned withsaid forward opening in said housing for the passage of said snake; atubular spindle projecting from said housing axially of said opening; atubular hand grip coaxially overlying said spindle; a bearing positionedbetween said grip housing and said spindle to permit relative axial androtational movement therebetween; and a collet chuck between said griphousing and said spindle which is operable to grip said snake passingthrough said spindle when said grip housing is axially displaced in apredetermined direction.

8. A power driven plumber snake assembly comprising: a hand power toolproviding a rotatable drive member at its forward end; a snake cartridgehousing mounted on said drive member for axial rotation therewith toreceive, house and rotate a snake cartridge, and having an axial openingat its forward end opposite said drive member for the passage of asnake; said housing being separable into forward and rear portions topermit the insertion and removal of a snake cartridge; a snake cartridgehaving a flexible plumber snake coiled therein and removably positionedin said housin fo axi ro ti th ewith d havin fo ward 0%ening ignefi with said forwar opening i said housing for the passage of said snake; atubular spindle forwardly projecting from said housing axially of saidopening; a tubular hand grip coaxially overlying said spindle; a bearingpositioned between said grip and said spindle and a sleeve coaxiallyreceived in said bearing and axially displaceable therewith and slidableon said spindle to provide relative axial and rotational move mentbetween said grip and said sleeve; at least one jaw member between saidgrip and spindle and extendable through an opening in said spindle uponaxial displacement engagement by said sleeve to clamp said snake passingthrough said spindle when said grip is displaced rearwardly.

9. A plumber snake apparatus comprising a snake housing, a snake coiledin said housing about an axis, means operative for rotating said housingabout said axis, an axial opening in said housing for the passage ofsaid snake, a tubular spindle projecting from said housing axially ofsaid opening, a tubular hand grip coaxially overlying said spindle,bearing means between said grip and said spindle to permit relativeaxial and rotational movement therebetween, a spring jaw member having aflexible spring arm connected at one end to the outside of said spindleand extending outwardly therefrom and ending in a jaw head extendingover said opening for passage therethrough into said spindle to engagesaid snake when said spring arm is flexed inwardly, and said tubulargrip operable upon axial displacement in one direction to force said jawhead inwardly through said opening to clamp said snake passing throughsaid spindle.

10. The plumber snake apparatus of claim 9 wherein said bearing meansincludes a sleeve coaxially slidable over said tubular spindle, anaxially extending cam guideway inside said sleeve to receive said springarm and operable to force said jaw head inward through said opening insaid tubular spindle when said sleeve is displaced rearwardly, saidsleeve having antifriction rotational engagement with said tubular gripand being axially displaceable therewith, and stop means on said tubularspindle forward of said sleeve to limit the forward axial movement ofsaid grip and sleeve.

1. A plumber snake apparatus for pipe cleaning comprising a snakecartridge, said snake cartridge having a flexible snake coiled therein,a housing adapted for encasement of said snake cartridge therein andhaving means to rotate the same and provided with an axial opening atits forward end for the passage of said flexible snake, access means onsaid housing for the insertion and removal of said snake cartridge, saidsnake cartridge removably positioned in said housing for rotationtherewith and having an axial opening at its forward end aligned withsaid housing forward opening for passage of said flexible snake.
 2. Theplumber snake apparatus of claim 1 wherein said snake cartridge is amolded plastic container which conforms to the internal shape of saidhousing.
 3. A plumber snake apparatus for pipe cleaning comprising asnake cartridge, said snake cartridge having a flexible snake coiledtherein, a housing for said snake cartridge having means to rotate thesame and provided with an axial opening at its forward end for thepassage of said flexible snake, access means on said housing for theinsertion and removal of said snake cartridge, said snake cartridgeremovably positioned in said housing for rotation therewith and havingan axial opening at its forward end aligned with said housing forwardopening for passage of said flexible snake, a tubular spindle projectingfrom said housing axially of said opening, a tubular hand grip coaxiallyoverlying said spindle, bearing means between said grip and said spindleto permit relative axial and rotational movement therebetween, and chuckmeans operable with axial displacement of said grip to clamp said snakepassing through said spindle.
 4. The plumber snake apparatus of claim 3wherein said snake cartridge is a molded plastic container whichconforms to the internal shape of said housing.
 5. The plumber snakeapparatus of claim 3 wherein said chuck means comprises an opening insaid tubular spindle, a spring jaw member having a flexible spring armconnected at one end to the outside of said spindle and extendingoutwardly therefrom and ending in a jaw head extending over said openingfor passage therethrough into said spindle to engage said snake whensaid spring arm is flexed inwardly, and guide means in said bearingmeans to receive said spring arm to force said jaw head inwardly throughsaid opening upon axial displacement of said tubular grip.
 6. Theplumber snake apparatus of claim 5 wherein said bearing means includes asleeve coaxially slidable over said tubular spindle, an axiallyextending cam guideway inside said sleeve to receive said spring arm andoperable to force said jaw head inward through said opening in saidtubular spindle when said sleeve is displaced rearwardly, said sleevehaving antifriction rotational engagement with said tubular grip andbeing axially displaceable therewith, and stop means on said tubularspindle forward of said sleeve to limit the forward axial movement ofsaid grip and sleeve.
 7. A Power driven conduit cleaner snake apparatuscomprising: a power tool providing a rotatable drive member; a snakecartridge housing mounted on said drive member for axial rotationtherewith to receive, house and rotate a snake cartridge and having anaxial opening at its forward end for the passage of a snake, saidhousing having access means to permit the insertion and removal of asnake cartridge; a snake cartridge having a snake coiled therein andremovably positioned in said housing for rotation therewith and having aforward opening aligned with said forward opening in said housing forthe passage of said snake; a tubular spindle projecting from saidhousing axially of said opening; a tubular hand grip coaxially overlyingsaid spindle; a bearing positioned between said grip housing and saidspindle to permit relative axial and rotational movement therebetween;and a collet chuck between said grip housing and said spindle which isoperable to grip said snake passing through said spindle when said griphousing is axially displaced in a predetermined direction.
 8. A powerdriven plumber snake assembly comprising: a hand power tool providing arotatable drive member at its forward end; a snake cartridge housingmounted on said drive member for axial rotation therewith to receive,house and rotate a snake cartridge, and having an axial opening at itsforward end opposite said drive member for the passage of a snake; saidhousing being separable into forward and rear portions to permit theinsertion and removal of a snake cartridge; a snake cartridge having aflexible plumber snake coiled therein and removably positioned in saidhousing for axial rotation therewith and having a forward openingaligned with said forward opening in said housing for the passage ofsaid snake; a tubular spindle forwardly projecting from said housingaxially of said opening; a tubular hand grip coaxially overlying saidspindle; a bearing positioned between said grip and said spindle and asleeve coaxially received in said bearing and axially displaceabletherewith and slidable on said spindle to provide relative axial androtational movement between said grip and said sleeve; at least one jawmember between said grip and spindle and extendable through an openingin said spindle upon axial displacement engagement by said sleeve toclamp said snake passing through said spindle when said grip isdisplaced rearwardly.
 9. A plumber snake apparatus comprising a snakehousing, a snake coiled in said housing about an axis, means operativefor rotating said housing about said axis, an axial opening in saidhousing for the passage of said snake, a tubular spindle projecting fromsaid housing axially of said opening, a tubular hand grip coaxiallyoverlying said spindle, bearing means between said grip and said spindleto permit relative axial and rotational movement therebetween, a springjaw member having a flexible spring arm connected at one end to theoutside of said spindle and extending outwardly therefrom and ending ina jaw head extending over said opening for passage therethrough intosaid spindle to engage said snake when said spring arm is flexedinwardly, and said tubular grip operable upon axial displacement in onedirection to force said jaw head inwardly through said opening to clampsaid snake passing through said spindle.
 10. The plumber snake apparatusof claim 9 wherein said bearing means includes a sleeve coaxiallyslidable over said tubular spindle, an axially extending cam guidewayinside said sleeve to receive said spring arm and operable to force saidjaw head inward through said opening in said tubular spindle when saidsleeve is displaced rearwardly, said sleeve having antifrictionrotational engagement with said tubular grip and being axiallydisplaceable therewith, and stop means on said tubular spindle forwardof said sleeve to limit the forward axial movement of said grip andsleeve.